Caroline Courtauld Mbe

About the Author

Caroline Courtauld MBE is a distinguished historian and author whose passion for Chinese imperial history has illuminated the secluded world of the Forbidden City's inner sanctum. With a career spanning academia, diplomacy, and cultural advocacy, she has dedicated years to unraveling the mysteries of the Qing dynasty's court life, drawing on meticulous research and personal explorations of Beijing's historic sites. Her acclaimed work, Forbidden City: The Great Within (Second Edition), offers an intimate portrait of the empresses, eunuchs, and rituals that defined this enigmatic realm, blending scholarly rigor with vivid storytelling. Awarded the MBE for her contributions to UK-China relations, Courtauld continues to inspire readers with her eloquent insights into East Asian heritage and the enduring allure of forbidden histories.